Trump waved at reporters after an election victory that has sent shockwaves across the world

Donald Trump arrives back at Trump Tower after winning US election

The 45th US President watched the results come in from Trump Tower before addressing his supporters from a nearby Hilton Hotel.

The real estate billionaire sent shockwaves across the world after delivering his own "Brexit for America" in a historic victory over Hillary Clinton.

In his first address as President-elect after a bitter campaign, Trump struck a unifying tone in front of crowds cheering "USA, USA".

He said it was "time for America to bind the wounds of division".

In an impassioned speech that continued his theme of reaching out to disillusioned Americans, Trump told a packed-out crowd in Manhattan: "The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer".

He added: "I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all Americans, and this is so important for me".

Trump added: "And I love this country. Thank you. Thank you very much."

In his first tweet since being elected, Trump posted: "Such a beautiful and important evening! The forgotten man and woman will never be forgotten again."

In a night of high drama, Trump's promise to "Make America Great Again" paid off as millions of voters who Hillary Clinton dismissed as a "basket of deplorables" went to polling stations in their droves to paint the map of the US Republican red.

Trump won the election with 279 electoral college votes against Clinton's 228 with some votes still being counted.

Such a beautiful and important evening! The forgotten man and woman will never be forgotten again. We will all come together as never before

Russia's strongman President Vladimir Putin, who Trump has expressed admiration for in the past, was the first world leader to congratulate the controversial Republican.

Trump said of Putin in July 2015: "I think I'd get along very well with Vladimir Putin. I just think so."

In a statement today Putin spoke about "building a constructive dialogue between Moscow and Washington, based on principles of equality, mutual respect and each other’s positions, meets the interests of the peoples of our countries and of the entire international community."

Fights broke out outside the White House after the election of Donald Trump

Trump dubbed himself "Mr Brexit", and fought on a ticket to "drain the swamp" of the Washington elite.

His was a call to action to hundreds of millions of mainly white, working class voters who had become increasingly alienated from the political elite - mirroring the millions of Brits who used the EU referendum to send a message to "out-of-touch" MPs in Westminster.

On the stage Trump vowed: "America will no longer settle for anything less than the best. We must reclaim our country's destiny and dream big. Working together we will begin the urgent task of rebuilding our nation and renewing the American dream," before adding: "There will be no dream too big, no challenge too great".

And in a message to foreign powers, he said: "I want to tell the world community, we will deal fairly with everyone. We will seek common ground".

It fell to the state of Wisconsin to seal victory for Trump, taking him past the magic number of 270 college votes to confirm him as President.

The Republicans had grown increasingly confident over the course of a dramatic night of voting, as a string of key swing states fell to the controversial billionaire to deal a hammer blow to Clinton's hopes.

A group of women react as voting results come in at Hillary Clinton's election night party

Barely an hour before Trump claimed victory, Clinton's campaign chief John Podesta has refused to concede defeat, instead sending supporters home, saying: "I know you’ve been here a long time and it’s been a long night and it’s been a long campaign, but I can say, we can wait a little longer, can’t we?

"We’re still counting votes and every vote should count. Several states are too close to call, so we’re not going to have anything more to say tonight.

Trump supporters have complained they were hit with technical glitches while trying to vote, with Republicans saying that every time they tried to make their choice, a Democratic candidate would come up.